DEERFIELD, IL--(Marketwire - March 08, 2012) - Horizon Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: HZNP) today announced the appointment of Gino Santini to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Santini, age 55, retired as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development of Eli Lilly in December 2010, after a career with the company of more than 27 years. He had held the position since 2007 and had become a member of the company's Executive Committee and CEO staff since January 2004. He served as President of U.S. Operations from 1999 to 2004.

"We are pleased to welcome Gino to our Board of Directors," said Timothy P. Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Horizon Pharma. "His extensive domestic and international commercial and business development experience and success will be an asset as Horizon continues to grow."

Mr. Santini received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bologna in 1981 and a master's degree from the Simon School of Business, University of Rochester, in 1983.

He joined Eli Lilly in 1983 as a financial planning associate in Italy and has held various positions in the financial and marketing components in Italy and in Indianapolis. In 1990, Mr. Santini was appointed Pharmaceutical Director for the Eli Lilly affiliate in Belgium, and in 1991, he was named General Manager of Eli Lilly Compania de Mexico in Mexico City. He served as Area Director of Latin America from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he became Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development with the responsibility for the Public Policy and Development Group. He was named President of the Women's Health Business Unit in 1997.

Mr. Santini is a past Chairman of the Board of the National Pharmaceutical Council and of Noble of Indiana, a nonprofit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Mr. Santini was recently named the 2009 Campaign Chairman for United Way of Central Indiana. He also served on the Board of Directors for United Way and the Executive Committee and Board of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Allena Pharmaceuticals and AMAG Pharmaceuticals.

Horizon also announced that Louis Bock has informed the Company that he will not stand for reelection when his term expires at the 2012 Annual Meeting to be held on June 8, 2012. In addition, Dr. Hubert Birner resigned from the Horizon Board effective March 6, 2012. It is expected that Dr. Birner will continue to attend Horizon's Board meetings in an observer capacity.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors of Horizon Pharma, I would like to thank Lou and Hubert for their contributions, dedication and support of the Company and its stockholders and we wish them both well," commented Mr. Walbert.

About Horizon PharmaHorizon Pharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing and commercializing innovative medicines to target unmet therapeutic needs in arthritis, pain and inflammatory diseases. For more information, please visit www.horizonpharma.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding potential future contributions of Mr. Santini, Dr. Birner's future involvement as a Board observer and the future growth of Horizon's business. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release, and actual results may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks regarding the effectiveness of Mr. Santini as a director on Horizon's Board. For a further description of these and other risks facing Horizon, please see the risk factors described in Horizon's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in those filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Horizon undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.